Bulwark Takes

Trump's massive America 250 celebration was supposed to be a patriotic showcase, but it quickly descended into chaos. Sam Stein and Bill Kristol give their takes on the biggest failures of the day, from Patriot Front's march through Washington, D.C. and Republicans' attempts to blame the left, to Doug Burgum's refusal to clearly condemn neo-Nazis, hours-long security delays, thunderstorms, and a celebration that seemed designed more to glorify Donald Trump than the country itself.

Jay Nordlinger joins Bill Kristol for Bulwark on Sunday.
Read Jay's Substack, "Onward and Upward" https://www.jaynordlinger.com/

Tim Miller is joined by TMZ DC's Charlie Cotton and Jacob Wasserman to talk about their unlikely rise on Capitol Hill and why lawmakers keep stopping to talk to them. From Lindsey Graham's infamous Disney bubble wand to chasing members of Congress through the Capitol, the pair discuss how they're bringing a fresh approach to political reporting, what surprised them most about Washington, and why asking different questions can reveal a different side of the people in power. They also share behind-the-scenes stories from their first two months covering Congress and what it's like building relationships with politicians across the political spectrum.

Tim Miller takes on Trump's 327 unreported stock trades made the day before his surprise tariff pause—and why Tim has come around on impeachment. He also breaks down the July 4th speech from Mayor Mamdani that even this ex-Republican appreciated. Plus, Tim appears on Deadline: White House to discuss a new congressional report on how the White House hijacked America's 250th, from the shadow charity Freedom 250 to Park Service workers made to wear "Vichy pins."
Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Egger give their takes on the surprisingly competitive political race in Iowa, where Democratic nominee Rob Sand is trying to build a new kind of populist message: less culture-war confrontation, more competence, accountability, and structural reform. Andrew went to Iowa to attend Sand’s campaign events in rural Iowa, where Rob is blending local concerns like affordability, school funding, abortion restrictions, and agricultural policy into a broader pitch against one-party Republican control. Despite Iowa’s recent GOP dominance, new polling suggests a closer-than-expected race, raising questions about whether Sand’s “nonpartisan populism” can break through in a state that has been trending right for years.
Read more from Andrew's reporting: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/iowa-rob-sand-democratic-governor-nominee-campaign-report-auditor-populism